LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Dozens of community members gathered at a pedestrian safety forum with a mission to make the roads safer for everyone across the Las Vegas Valley.
The forum comes weeks after a tragedy rocked Arbor View High School where senior Mckenzie Scott was struck and killed by an alleged drunk driver while crossing the street.
Wednesday, some Arbor View High graduates, traffic safety advocates and NDOT officials joined the forum.
Students in attendance hope to boost safety around schools all across the Valley.
“We have some ideas for how to get awareness into schools directly,” said Adrianna Ornelas, who graduated from Arbor View High, Tuesday. Scott’s name was called first when students lined up to get their diploma.
It’s important for every member of the community to take responsibility for road and pedestrian safety, according to Erin Breen of the UNLV Road Equity Alliance Project.
“How do we get the everyday driver, pedestrian, road user to see themselves as part of the solution– and not somebody else’s problem?” Breen said.
Breen and county officials discussed various road improvements across the Las Vegas Valley to boost pedestrian safety.
“We’re also looking at the way our courts interact with each other, making sure that when an individual gets a DUI in one jurisdiction, it’s reflected in another jurisdiction,” said Commissioner Michael Naft, who discussed efforts to bring crossing guards to middle schools.
The county also passed a “safe sidewalks” ordinance, mandating that sidewalks have a five-foot buffer from the road.
Dangerous drivers still pose a major risk.
“We have a terrible problem with impaired drivers, with speeding drivers. There’s only so much you can do with a road design to reduce speed,” Breen said.
NDOT shared some statistics for pedestrian fatalities:
- 68% of crashes happen in zones with speeds of 35 to 49 miles an hour
- In 57% of crashes, alcohol was not a factor
- 18% of pedestrian fatalities were “hit and run” crashes
Many drivers reported they couldn’t see someone crossing the street due to poor visibility from the sun, or when pedestrians wore dark clothing at night.
Over the summer, Breen urges drivers to be more aware than ever for pedestrians who often “jaywalk” or break road rules to escape the heat and the hot pavement.
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